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3 Themes in Education to Explore at the EMS World Expo

by  Public Safety Group     Sep 5, 2023
person learning textbook

The EMS World Expo is one of the largest conferences for Emergency Medical Services workers, bringing together thousands of paramedics, EMTs, and other public safety professionals from around the globe.

The way EMS is taught has changed drastically over the course of the last several years. Below are three themes in EMS education at the 2023 EMS World Expo. 

Technological Advancements in EMS Education

With the rapid development of technology, it is no surprise that it is transforming the way EMS professionals are educated. The EMS World Expo 2023 is likely to highlight the role of technology in improving educational methodologies, student engagement, and skill development.

One of the key areas where technology is making an impact is virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). These immersive technologies provide learners with realistic scenarios that simulate real-life emergencies, allowing them to practice critical decision-making and improve their skills in a safe environment. Furthermore, VR and AR can be used to enhance anatomy and physiology education, allowing students to explore the human body in three dimensions.

Another technological advancement that will likely be discussed at the expo is the use of simulation-based training. High-fidelity mannequins and simulators provide students with hands-on experience in managing various medical emergencies. These simulations not only improve skills but also allow students to develop critical thinking and teamwork abilities.

Mental Health Care for EMS Teams

EMTs and paramedics face a great deal of stress carrying out the responsibilities of their roles, leading to a disproportionate occurrence of burnout and mental health struggles among the highly skilled workers in this field. We expect to see a continuing trend in taking an educational and preventative approach to mental health support for EMS practitioners at this year’s conference.

By shifting focus from providing extensive technical education toward providing a mix of technical training and training on soft skills and well-being, employers can begin to establish a culture where mental health among EMS workers is a top priority.

Public Safety Group has been addressing mental health among EMS workers with positive outcomes. In addition to the soft skills discussed in the latest edition of Emergency Care in the Streets, we have two offerings that have been changing the mental health climate in organizations that leverage them: 

  • The Mental Health Resilience Officer Course, created by NAEMT and distributed by Public Safety Group, is designed to assist EMS agencies in building and supporting the mental health resilience of their personnel. After completing the 6-hour course, your MHRO will be prepared to coordinate the mental health resiliency efforts of the agency and provide advanced support and referral to peers and subordinates.
  • Additionally, our First Responder Resiliency course is designed to help all EMS workers prioritize their own wellness, support the mental health of their peers, recognize the early signs of crisis, and take appropriate steps to intervene. When all EMS providers are adequately trained, the stigma around emotional well-being and self-care is slowly broken down, allowing for open, honest dialogue 'on the floor' and improved support from every direction. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

EMS practitioners care for diverse populations and must be able to recognize and overcome their own biases to provide compassionate, empathetic, and equitable care to all patients. The approach in the future will shift to focus on removing the shame associated with unconscious bias and equipping practitioners with the tools and resources they need to recognize and overcome the biases all people inherently hold. Agencies who do this first will see immediate returns in patient satisfaction and patient outcomes as equity improves. 

Also important in the DEI theme is representation of all students in the curriculum. It’s essential for students to recognize themselves in their education, to not feel marginalized, to feel a strong sense of belonging in their chosen profession, to trust their teammates, and to be supported throughout their careers. 

Public Safety Group is meeting the need when it comes to DEI by:

  • Ensuring all students feel represented in our content by strengthening our materials to be more inclusive, enhancing our illustrations, and providing broader representation for practitioners and patients,
  • Introducing both technical knowledge and emotional nuance into our products that help practitioners determine the best ways to provide care in difficult situations, and,
  • Providing instructors with tools that improve their proficiency when it comes to discussing difficult topics with students - especially around diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging. 

Browse all of Public Safety Group's Emergency Medical Services products and resources.

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3 Themes in Education to Explore at the EMS World Expo

by  Public Safety Group     Sep 5, 2023
person learning textbook

The EMS World Expo is one of the largest conferences for Emergency Medical Services workers, bringing together thousands of paramedics, EMTs, and other public safety professionals from around the globe.

The way EMS is taught has changed drastically over the course of the last several years. Below are three themes in EMS education at the 2023 EMS World Expo. 

Technological Advancements in EMS Education

With the rapid development of technology, it is no surprise that it is transforming the way EMS professionals are educated. The EMS World Expo 2023 is likely to highlight the role of technology in improving educational methodologies, student engagement, and skill development.

One of the key areas where technology is making an impact is virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). These immersive technologies provide learners with realistic scenarios that simulate real-life emergencies, allowing them to practice critical decision-making and improve their skills in a safe environment. Furthermore, VR and AR can be used to enhance anatomy and physiology education, allowing students to explore the human body in three dimensions.

Another technological advancement that will likely be discussed at the expo is the use of simulation-based training. High-fidelity mannequins and simulators provide students with hands-on experience in managing various medical emergencies. These simulations not only improve skills but also allow students to develop critical thinking and teamwork abilities.

Mental Health Care for EMS Teams

EMTs and paramedics face a great deal of stress carrying out the responsibilities of their roles, leading to a disproportionate occurrence of burnout and mental health struggles among the highly skilled workers in this field. We expect to see a continuing trend in taking an educational and preventative approach to mental health support for EMS practitioners at this year’s conference.

By shifting focus from providing extensive technical education toward providing a mix of technical training and training on soft skills and well-being, employers can begin to establish a culture where mental health among EMS workers is a top priority.

Public Safety Group has been addressing mental health among EMS workers with positive outcomes. In addition to the soft skills discussed in the latest edition of Emergency Care in the Streets, we have two offerings that have been changing the mental health climate in organizations that leverage them: 

  • The Mental Health Resilience Officer Course, created by NAEMT and distributed by Public Safety Group, is designed to assist EMS agencies in building and supporting the mental health resilience of their personnel. After completing the 6-hour course, your MHRO will be prepared to coordinate the mental health resiliency efforts of the agency and provide advanced support and referral to peers and subordinates.
  • Additionally, our First Responder Resiliency course is designed to help all EMS workers prioritize their own wellness, support the mental health of their peers, recognize the early signs of crisis, and take appropriate steps to intervene. When all EMS providers are adequately trained, the stigma around emotional well-being and self-care is slowly broken down, allowing for open, honest dialogue 'on the floor' and improved support from every direction. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

EMS practitioners care for diverse populations and must be able to recognize and overcome their own biases to provide compassionate, empathetic, and equitable care to all patients. The approach in the future will shift to focus on removing the shame associated with unconscious bias and equipping practitioners with the tools and resources they need to recognize and overcome the biases all people inherently hold. Agencies who do this first will see immediate returns in patient satisfaction and patient outcomes as equity improves. 

Also important in the DEI theme is representation of all students in the curriculum. It’s essential for students to recognize themselves in their education, to not feel marginalized, to feel a strong sense of belonging in their chosen profession, to trust their teammates, and to be supported throughout their careers. 

Public Safety Group is meeting the need when it comes to DEI by:

  • Ensuring all students feel represented in our content by strengthening our materials to be more inclusive, enhancing our illustrations, and providing broader representation for practitioners and patients,
  • Introducing both technical knowledge and emotional nuance into our products that help practitioners determine the best ways to provide care in difficult situations, and,
  • Providing instructors with tools that improve their proficiency when it comes to discussing difficult topics with students - especially around diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging. 

Browse all of Public Safety Group's Emergency Medical Services products and resources.

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